A Grimsby throat cancer patient who had to be fed through a tube for months has given back to the people helping him through his battle.

Electrician Paul Rich, 54, was diagnosed with the disease in June after doctors found a tumour in his throat when he went to get a persistent sore throat checked out, and despite losing the ability to swallow for months, is refusing to let it beat him.

The whole ordeal has put tremendous pressure on Paul and his family, as he has had to take time off work in order to undergo treatment at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull.

Due to the nature and positioning of the cancer in Paul's throat, the six week treatment of radio and chemotherapy caused him great difficulty eating, with his throat swelling to a point where he could not even drink water.

His appetite was also almost non-existent, but this combined with his throat problems, made it even worse for Paul, who eventually had to be fed through a tube in his stomach so that he would be able to get nutrition.

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Along with his "incredible" doctors, Paul credits the staff from Macmillan with helping him and his family getting through the ordeal, providing crucial support throughout the entire course of treatment.

They helped him to prepare prior, putting him at ease about the process ahead, and providing further reassurance during the chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Now that his course of treatment is over, the carers have always been on hand to help him prepare for his next step, as he awaits the results of his last round of tests.

Paul said: "I was diagnosed with the cancer in June earlier this year, a couple of weeks before we had planned to go to Cuba for a wedding, which was quite worrying.

"But thankfully with a bit of help, we were able to put things on hold until we went and then start the treatment afterwards, which is apparently quite a common thing, you can plan your life out, but you never think that something like this will happen that can change everything.

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"Two days after getting home I was back in the hospital getting ready to start my chemotherapy and radiotherapy, both of which were a very tough battle, leaving you very drained emotionally and physically.

"Due to the position of the cancer in my throat, the treatment made it nearly impossible for me to eat, with the chemotherapy causing my throat to swell a lot, leaving me with only enough room to breathe. I wasn't even able to drink water and doctors had to put a tube in my stomach for me to eat.

"The radiotherapy was a little bit different, where it burned my throat from the inside out, which made it even harder to try and eat."

Paul Rich was treated at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull

However, despite all this hardship Paul has managed to pull through, astounding his family, doctors and nurses with his commitment to trying to overcome the disease.

He continued: "I just do not want to give up, and I knew that if I was able to get back eating proper food again, then I would have a better chance of overcoming it all.

"So I have been forcing myself to eat as much as possible, even if I am not feeling like I have an appetite I still force myself to have something because I know the good that it will do.

"I would just like to give a big thanks to everyone who has helped me so far to try and beat this, from my wife June and my family, to the carers at the hospital and Macmillan who have gone out of their way to try and help and support me."

As a way of saying thank you to the people at Macmillan, members of the Birdseye Club on Ladysmith Road, where Paul is a member, raised £600 for the charity with a raffle sponsored by Sally Blow from Blakemores Ltd.